Their ABC? Viewers turned off aunty in 2014

The ABC’s main channel suffered the largest drop in audience share of the main networks.Source:News Corp Australia

AUDIENCES across the board have turned off the national broadcaster at three times the rate of commercial channels, ratings figures show.

The ABC lost 3.95 per cent of group audience across all channels last year, even suffering a 3.8 per cent decline in prime time among its traditional older demographic of over-55s, The Australian reports.

The figures from ratings body OzTAM show the ABC’s main channel suffered the largest drop in audience share of the main networks, falling from 11 per cent in 2013 to 10.08 per cent last year in the 16-54 age group.

The ABC as a whole lost audience at about twice the rate of the Seven, Nine and Ten networks, and about three times the rate against their main channels.

An ABC spokesman said he “strongly rejects” the suggestion that the national broadcaster performed badly in 2014, pointing to the success of online catch-up service iView.

“It’s worth noting the ABC is actively encouraging uptake of viewing on iView and it once again finished the year as the number one online TV destination — iView program plays saw an increase of 29 per cent year-on-year,” he said.